V.V.S. Iyer Context: On the occasion of the death anniversary of V.V.S. Iyer—a freedom fighter and renowned writer—the Vice President of India paid tribute to him. About V.V.S. Iyer (1881–1925) Birth and Early Life Full Name: Varahaneri Venkatesa Subramaniam Iyer (V.V.S. Iyer) Born: April 2, 1881, Varahaneri, Trichy. He completed his legal studies and practiced as a lawyer. He was a polyglot, proficient in several languages including Tamil, English, Sanskrit, French, and Latin. Life in London and the Revolutionary Path In 1907, he enrolled at Lincoln's Inn in London to pursue his legal studies. His meeting with Vinayak Damodar Savarkar there proved to be a turning point in his life. He served as a key member of the 'India House' revolutionary movement. As a revolutionary freedom fighter, during his three-year stay in London, he abstained from food on more than 600 occasions; he utilized the money saved through these fasts to purchase arms and ammunition. He assisted in translating Savarkar's book, The Indian War of Independence, from Marathi into English. The Puducherry Period (1910–1920) Fleeing from an arrest warrant issued by the British government, he escaped to Puducherry. There, he collaborated with Subramania Bharati and Sri Aurobindo to engage in activities aimed at national liberation He lived in Puducherry for approximately 10 years. Contribution to the Freedom Struggle A nationalist leader who advocated for armed revolution. In 1911, Robert William Ashe served as the District Collector and District Magistrate of the Tirunelveli district. He did everything within his power to dismantle the ‘Swadeshi Steam Navigation Company,’ which had been founded by V.O. Chidambaram Pillai; furthermore, he played a pivotal role in ensuring V.O.C. was imprisoned. This act ignited a desire for vengeance among the revolutionaries. Preparations to assassinate Ashe began as early as January 1911. Vanchinathan was selected to carry…
